Systemic lupus erythematosus in Kuwait--hospital based study.

Author(s):AlJarallah K, AlAwadi A, Siddiqui H, AlSalim I, Shehab D,

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Abstract The present study describes the clinical characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), from the rheumatology service of the two main teaching hospitals in Kuwait. It was a retrospective-cum-prospective clinical study of 108 SLE patients. There were 98 females and 10 males, with a median age of 31.5y. Kuwaitis constituted 69\%, while 31\% were expatriates. The mean disease duration was 62 months. The main clinical features were: musculoskeletal involvement (87\%), photosensitivity (48\%), malar rash (43\%), discoid lesions (10\%), oral ulcers (33\%), vasculitic skin lesions (10\%), haematological features (53\%), constitutional symptoms (51.4\%), neuropsychiatric manifestations (23\%), renal involvement (37\%), serositis (29\%), clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (21\%), cardiac involvement (10\%) and pulmonary manifestations (19\%). In conclusion, the clinical features of SLE in Kuwait were similar to most major studies from developed countries. Main differences included prominent haematological and mucocutaneous manifestations and possibly a low prevalence of anti-Sm antibodies. Whether these differences are due to the environment or genetic factors, remains to be studied.